KUALA LUMPUR: There has been no change in administration in the Sabah government, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following a failed coup attempt in the state yesterday.
The prime minister said the situation in Sabah is under control, and that he has been in contact with a number of Sabah leaders including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Parti Warisan (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Anwar said he also held discussions with BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and DAP secretary-general Anthony Look Siew Fook on the matter.
"I have contacted them all about Sabah. Hajiji, Shafie and Bung Moktar. I have also discussed this with Zahid and Loke and it seems that (Sabah) is calm for now.
"I don't think there will be any developments (on a change in the state government)," he said after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Bukit Aman here today.
Anwar also advised political leaders to have constructive meetings if there are specific issues to discuss.
"I have been informed on certain issues and I asked for the Chief Minister to have a good discussion with my friends in Sabah," he said.
It was previously reported that a coup attempt, labeled the "Kinabalu Move", to topple the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration, was thwarted yesterday.
Sources claimed that the move, purportedly engineered by Bung Moktar, Shafie and former Umno stalwart Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, failed after 11 out of 17 Umno state assemblymen refused to support Warisan in forming a new government.
The 11 assemblymen instead chose to declare their support for Hajiji as chief minister.
It is understood that a meeting of state Umno leaders was called at the Sabah Umno building. The 11 Umno assemblymen later declared their support for Hajiji at the chief minister's residence last night.
The 11 assemblymen were Datuk Yakub Khan (Karambunai), who is also Sabah Umno Deputy Communications Chairman; Datuk Andi Muhamad Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu); Datuk Mohd Hamsan Ag Supain (Sungai Sibuga); Datuk James Ratib (Sugut); Datuk Harun Durabi (Bengkoka); Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin) and Datuk Raimie Unggi (appointed assemblyman).
The rest were Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also the Community Development and Sabah People's Welfare Minister (Tanjung Keramat); Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit); Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (appointed assemblyman).
Warisan had yesterday evening called for a press conference, which was supposed to be chaired by Shafie, with Bung Moktar also in attendance. However, the press conference was called off.
It is understood that the assemblymen's refusal to support Warisan on the coup attempt was the reason behind the cancellation of the press conference.
It was also learnt that all seven Pakatan Harapan (PH) assemblymen had also backed the GRS government and Hajiji's leadership, which put paid to Warisan and BN's plans to assume control of the state administration.
The political pact between Warisan and Umno/ BN needed the support of other parties, especially PH, to secure enough seats to change the state government.
Warisan has 19 seats, while Umno/ BN has 17 seats, totaling 36 out of the 79 seats available, including six seats for appointed assemblymen.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) currently has 29 seats, 15 of which comprise former members of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), seven from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), six from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and one from Parti Maju Sabah ( SAPP).
GRS is also supported by an independent assemblyman and a Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS) assemblyman.
With the support of seven PH assemblymen, GRS has 38 seats or 49 seats, if the 11 Umno assemblymen were to be included.